Why a new car radio? To be up to date with the latest technology, even in an older vehicle, there are nowadays the classic car radios to be retrofit with current infotainment. Even if the DIN slot has long since gone out of fashion, many technology fans use it to upgrade their aging car radio replace. The technical advance is so rapid that, for example, some vehicles built in 2005 still require a VHF radio together with CD player simply because that was the current state of the art. From the newer models the smartphone compatibility, a navigation system and a DAB+ radio are indispensable, not to mention gimmicks like voice control and touchscreen. And since it is uneconomical to always buy a new car to not miss any technical innovation, you just retrofit. Fortunately, there are a large number of pins to choose from high-tech media receivers, which is retrofit also install it in older models and bring along everything your technophile heart desires. And the installation is usually easy even for laymen, if you follow a certain sequence.
installation of the car radio – this is how it works!
1. The first thing to do is to upgrade the car battery be disconnected to avoid the danger of a short circuit.
2. Then it is advisable to look at both the instructions of the radio to be installed read through the instructions, as well as a look at the manual of the vehicle to throw. With some models it is important to pay attention to special features, such as the pin assignment onto the iso-plugs.
3. First, the old radio must be removed become. To do this, start by disassembling the frame and, if possible, the operating part. Normally this is not a big challenge.
4. Once this is done, you can remove the radio with the included release pins pull out. These are usually sideways from radio in (possibly hidden) rails introduced, whereby one can remove the radio from the shaft solve and pull out can. be careful, if you pull too fast, the cables can loosen and are then difficult to reach.
5. If you hold the radio in your hands, the connections on the old radio removed. Since the connectors have to be connected to the new radio, proceed carefully here so as not to damage them. It should be at least two iso connectors, for the power supply and the loudspeaker, and the antenna connection show. Possibly there is another connection, depending on the model this is for a amplifier provided.
6. Normally the frame left behind in the slot must now be dismantled. A screwdriver may be needed to loosen the locking tabs. Should the radio have a anti-theft device could have special tool be necessary.
7. Now the new radio can be unpacked and possibly existing sticker and security screws to be removed. Then loosen the mounting frame of the new radio and insert it into the slot. The necessary tools are usually included in the delivery package. If the frame is in the shaft, the locking lugs bend it over and thus lock the frame in place. Again, it should be mentioned that for a radio with an anti-theft device, any special tools needed must be obtained from the manufacturer.
8. then the new radio is plugged in connected. The danger of interchanging these is with iso-plugs not, however, it could be due to the manufacturer that pins may be interchanged. For example audi, VW and opel one must often pin 4 and 7 on the ISO power plug exchange. However, a look at the manual and/or the operating instructions can help here.
9. If cable and plug are connected, the radio is inserted into the slot, but not yet completely, because first the functions must be checked. For this the car battery reconnected, put on the control panel, if available, and turn on the radio. If everything works properly, the radio can be completely pushed into the slot and the panel is attached. By the way, if it is a double DIN radio, the installation is almost identical.
Tricks and tricks
Is the special tool included in the scope of delivery can no longer be found, you should have no experiments car, but directly an specialist workshop visit. The risk of damage is too great. For the experts it is usually a small matter and done in no time at all. Often it costs only a small obolus and one has saved much annoyance and time. Would like to be able to report, however, the removal and installation completely alone to have managed, you can also borrow the necessary tools from the workshop of your confidence. Also on the internet there are countless providers.
More difficult is the laying the cables. If the radio is very deep in terms of its dimensions, or the shaft offers too little space, a angled connector for the antenna cable remedy, which is already present in many radios for retrofitting. This should make it easy to insert the radio. If this is not the case, the cables must be repositioned become. If you are unsure whether you buy the right radio, you can simply remove the old radio before and compare when buying directly whether all the necessary connections are on it and the radio also fits safely.
If the vehicle is an older model, it may be possible that an adapter may be necessary, which you have to plug between the wiring. Also to get from the older 150 ohm antenna input to a newer 50 ohm ISO antenna connection to be able to change, a corresponding adapter needed. The required adapters are quite easy to order with a mouse click.
If no DIN slot is available!
If the shaft in a slightly newer car not available the installation of a new radio is an extremely difficult task complex. here the radio is then a fixed part of the dashboard and not so easily removable. If you want to do this in spite of everything, you may need a complete replacement of the fairing including all buttons will be necessary. Although special retrofit frames are now offered for optical adaptation, but the connectors and their assignment are usually no longer standardized. Here it is essential to use in advance to inquire with the manufacturer and the exchange should be not on your own without the necessary know-how to be carried out. In newer vehicles, the electronics are as sensitive as they are complex. The danger of causing expensive damage here is great and you should therefore leave the installation and removal to the professionals.
Replace outdated infotainment system?
With more modern vehicles, the installation is often carried out via the infotainment system a large part of all vehicle functions controlled. An exchange of such a system against an alternative is occasionally possible, but in normal cases it is extremely difficult complicated and only rarely satisfactory. Although there are quite a few providers (often from china) that even the infotainment system, for example the RNS810 from a VW phaeton, exchange, against its own version, but usually neither the optics nor the function is 100% satisfactory. Whether the settings for the chassis, the air conditioning or the parking heater will still work is more than questionable.
Of course that’s not all yet!
Tuningblog has still innumerable further articles approximately around the topic car and autotuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. but we would also like to provide you with news apart from tuning. In our category tips, products, infos& co we have contributions from auto od. accessories manufacturers, new tuning-wiki terms or one or the other leak published. Following is an excerpt of the last articles: